1. SAFETY for cattle and ranchers
2. Accessibility- Location
3. Uses- Common procedures
4. Equipment
5. Functionality- Good work flow

Pic above: Yearling Dexter cattle being run through the working area for vaccinations and deworming

As we welcome more and more new breeders to our community, both experienced and newcomers need to always consider the SAFETY of working areas a top priority.

Safety considerations for the Dexters:

1. Low stress
2. Quickly yet calmly work them through the area ( especially during extreme temperatures.)
3. Equipment in good shape and adjustable and suitable for their size. ( Calves need different head gate opening than a cow or bull.)
4. Make sure no slick areas and free of excessive mud ( Always good to avoid muddy areas. Cattle in general do not like slick footing. They will balk at any area that looks questionable to them.
5. Make sure the area has good lighting and doesn't have dark areas with no sight of an opening. Cattle like to move forward and will keep moving forward if they can see an exit.

Safety Consideration for the ranchers:

1. Safe working equipment (Squeeze chutes need to be greased and have maintenance throughout the year.)Verify all pinch points on equipment so cattle and ranchers do not get injured. Make sure pins and ropes on all movable parts are working smoothly and not at risk of breakage.
2. Are gates opening and closing easily while moving cattle. You do not need to fuss with a latch while trying to move them calmly.
3. Fill in any muddy areas and remove tripping hazards and unnecessary debris, for the cattle and ranchers.
4. Identify a secure location to place medications/medical equipment while you work the cows. ( You do not want cattle that have already been run through the working area, knocking over items or getting in your way.) We often have our Polaris 4×4 out by the working area. We keep our medications in a cooler, in the shade, on one of the seats.
5. Stay hydrated in the hot southern sun. The truth is we are getting “worked” just as much as the cattle are.

Read this article I wrote on "Cold Weather Effects on Working Cattle" in the 2020 ADCA Winter bulletin ( Page 14 and 15.)

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Make sure you grease your squeeze chute each season or more often if needed. There are grease entry points on the machine, or there should be on newer models. Check the ropes, pully systems, latch pins, etc, for good working order.

Above: Using grease gun to get squeeze chute ready for working the cows or working us, depending on how you look at it;)

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There may come a time where you need to medically treat a cow that is not haltered trained or even if so, may not be happy about a particular treatment that needs to be done. Sometimes you don't need a squeeze chute to do minor treatments. For example a foot soak, hydro therapy for a swollen leg or irrigation of a wound. Maybe you just want to wash off their backside. It is very easy to create a make shift wash stall area on your ranch. Find a place with good footing, and a slight slope so the water will run away without making the ground muddy, if you use this numerous times in a row. You can take a 16 foot cattle panel, T-post, a gate or door with some rope. It may not be pretty as you would have for show horses, but it gets the job done.